Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Cricket Players’ Refusal to Shake Hands After Mathews ‘Timed Out’ Controversy

In an exciting match at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Sri Lanka played against Bangladesh, but it’s going to be remembered for the wrong things. Tempers flared, and tensions ran high as a contentious ‘timed out‘ dismissal involving Angelo Mathews took center stage and led to a bitter conclusion at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

The Angelo Mathews ‘Timed Out’ Controversy

Sri Lanka’s player, Angelo Mathews, got in trouble when he was called ‘timed out‘ during their turn to bat. Mathews, batting at No. 6, failed to make it to the crease within the required time, prompting the Bangladesh players to appeal. Despite Mathews attempting to signal that he was facing issues with his helmet strap, the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth made the decision to dismiss him.

This was the first ‘timed out‘ dismissal in international cricket history, and it got people talking a lot, on and off the field.

Bangladesh’s Remarkable Chase

Bangladesh, chasing a target of 280 runs, faced an early setback, but a remarkable 169-run third-wicket partnership between their captain, Shakib Al Hasan (82), and Najmul Hossain Shanto (90), propelled them to a thrilling victory. Despite some late wickets falling during the run-chase, Towhid Hridoy and Tanzim Hasan Sakib’s eighth-wicket stand guided Bangladesh to a hard-fought three-wicket win.

Refusal to Shake Hands

However, the real drama unfolded after the match. As the final run was scored and Bangladesh secured their victory, the on-field tensions escalated. Players from both sides refused to shake hands, a customary tradition in the world of cricket. This refusal to acknowledge the spirit of the game showcased the depth of animosity between the two teams.

The Fallout

This intense rivalry between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh reached new heights in the aftermath of the match. A video of the Sri Lankan team not shaking hands with the Bangladeshi team became very popular on social media. This showed that the two teams didn’t like each other.

Player Perspectives

Shakib Al Hasan, the captain of the Bangladesh team, justified his choice to request a timed out dismissal, emphasizing that he made the decision with his team’s best interests in mind. He acted on his teammate’s input, making an instinctive decision under pressure in the heat of the moment.

Conversely, Angelo Mathews conveyed his dismay regarding the absence of regard for the sport and rationality. He made it very clear how important it is for players, umpires, and everyone involved in cricket to treat each other with respect.

Sri Lanka’s Captain’s Critique

Sri Lanka’s captain, Kusal Mendis, criticized the on-field umpires for not making the correct decision in Mathews’ dismissal. He believed that the umpires should have intervened when Mathews faced issues with his helmet strap.

Elimination from the Semifinal Race

With this loss, Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching the semifinals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 were dashed. Bangladesh had already faced elimination from the competition prior to this.

Ultimately, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 game featuring Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will be etched in memory due to the contentious timed out dismissal of Angelo Mathews and the subsequent refusal to exchange handshakes. This has left a sour impression on cricket enthusiasts and emphasized the importance of sportsmanship and mutual respect within the sport.

Um, like, so in my opinion, that whole thing in the cricket match was kinda not cool, you know? I mean, it’s a game, and we’re all supposed to have fun and stuff. But the way they did that timed out thing and then didn’t shake hands, it’s like, why? We’re all here to play and enjoy cricket, right?

I just think, maybe they should’ve been more chill and remembered it’s just a game. Like, sportsmanship and being nice to each other is a big deal. It’s not all about winning; it’s about having a good time and respecting each other. Hopefully, they’ll figure that out and things will be better next time, you know? Like, let’s keep the game fun and friendly!